Theft prevention device



Aug. 29, 1933. w NICHAM I 1,924,746

THEFT PREVENTION DEVICE Filed March 5, 1931 3 as 0 LJ% 21 37 "J1EE 25 716.3

rnfifi iNVENTOR VlZNickam lay ATTORNEY I a Patented Aug. 29, 1933 UNrrEo STATES rATsur orrics 1 Claim.

The main object or this invention is to provide a device in the form of a mechanism which incapacitates a thief or marauder or other unauthorized persons and blinds this person as he is leaving the premi es through a door.

Another object of the invention is to provide a evice which is concealed in the frame of a door and is operated by an individual in the room who is being robbed. lhe individual depressing a button which actuates cylinders from which an atomized gas is projected into a duct which extends to the perforated door frame and temporarily blinds or otherwise incapacitates the marauder so that an immediate capture is possible.

The above and other objects will become apparent in the description below in which characters of reference refer to like named parts in the drawin Referring briefly to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the application of the device to a room of a counting house or the like.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevational view of the air and gas cylinders.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of Figure 2 showing the piston operating means.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevational view thru the gas valve means.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 10 indicates the frame of a doorway. This frame hingedly has mounted therein the conventional type of door 11. Bounding and following the edge of the is a duct 12 which at spaced apart positions is provided with outlet ports 1. This duct extends to a position beneath the floor and continues to a pair of cylinders comprising a gas cylinder 14 and an air cylinder 15. The duct communicates with t..e forward end of both of these cylinders and a conventional type or nozzle is proviced so that the mixing of the liquid gas and air will atomize the liquid and convey the same through the duct 13 to the outlet ports 13 from which in atomized form escapes. The air cylinder is provided with a movable piston head 18 and a piston rod 17. This piston head is adapted to reciprocate in the chamber 13 or" the cylinder 15. At one end of the cylinder 15 an air inlet vent is provided which when uncovered by the piston 16 its downward stroke will permit an inrush of into the cylinder.

shown on the drawing). From this tank or reservoir a pipe line 23 extends. In this pipe line a collar 21 is provided whic has a conical seat 22 upon which norms rests a valve head 23; Integral with this valve head is a shank 24 which is slidable in collar 2 The shank is surmountof ed by a block 25 on ich earn surfaces 26 are provided. This cam blocl; urged into protruding position in the chamber of the cylinder 14 by a spring 23 which is wound about the shank of the valve unit. The cam block when in protruding position comes into contact with the periphery oi the piston 33 as the latter is moved by the piston rod 39 and is depressed opening and unseating the valve head 2". To permit the flow of liquid from the reservoir into the cylinder chamber 27 an opening 31 is provided in the collar 21.

The piston rods 17 and so at their outer ends are connected by a bridge plate 32 which is provided with spaced apart cars 33 hereon. These spaced apart ears receive between them the slotted end 3d of an actuator lever 35. This actuator lever is pivoted intermediate its outer length on an arm 36 which is anchored to the cylinders 14 and 15. The opposite end of the lever is also provided with a slot 37 in which the pin 38 of a solenoid plunger 39 is movable. The solenoid plunger is normally retracted when the solenoid 40 is energized by a push button switch 41 forming part of a circuit 42 energized by a source of energy 43.

The device adaptedto incapacitate or temporarily blind a house breaker or bank. burglar or the like. The marauder enters the doorway, instructs, upon threat of injury, the persons in the room to raise their hands and thus become powerless to combat. The marauder then commits the crime of theft and attempts toleave through the doorway. As this occurs the person in the region'of the push button switch 41 depresses the latter and energizes the solenoid 40. This will extend the solenoid plunger 39 and cause the piston heads 16 and 29 to be urged inwardly into a cylinder 15 and one 14 respectively. The cylinders 14 containing a fluid gas in its chamber will exhaust into the duct 12 through a conventional type of nozzle simultaneously with the air which is being exhausted from the cylinder 15 and will thus become atomized. This atomized gas will be sprayed through the ports 13 into the face of the marauder who will thereby becor-e blinded and consequently temporarily incapacitated. The spring retracted solenoid 40 upon completion of this movement will reverse the rotation of the lever 35 and will ex- 1 tend the piston rods 30. As the piston head 29 rides to the opposite end of the cylinder the cam block 25 will be depressed thereby unseating the valve head 23 and permitting through this operation the reception of a predetermined amount of gas in fluid state to enter the cylinderchamber 27 through the opening 31.

It is to be noted that certain changes in form and construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

It is further to be noted that the dweller or person being robbed within the room may stand before a mirror (not shown on the drawing) which may be mounted in a desirable position near the location at which the person robbed will normally be occupied. This mirror may be so mounted that it carries a complete image of the door throughwhich the marauder enters the room. The marauder upon having robbed the person will naturally pass out through the doors and the man robbed will when the marauder comes directly in front of the door, depress the switch button and actuate the device so that the temporarily incapacitating gas may affect the robber and thus incapacitate him.

I claim;

In a device of the class described, a unit for forcing atomized gas through a conduit comprising a pair of cylinders lying side-by-side, one of said cylinders being adapted to receive air and the other to receive a liquid, pistons and piston rods in said cylinders adapted to work in unison, a bridging member rigidly joining the ends of said piston rods outside said cylinders, outlet ports in said cylinders, tubes leading from said ports and converging into said conduit, an opening in the side of said liquid cylinder, a pipe connected to said opening and leading from a liquid tank, a valve in the end of said pipe adjacent said cylinder, and means on said valve cooperating with said liquid cylinder piston for opening and closing said valve, to permit liquid to flow from said pipe into said cylinder.

' WILLIAM NICHAM. 

